FAQ

How does HomeAid differ from other organizations that assist the homeless?

HomeAid builds multi-unit housing that is re-used an average of three times per year by temporarily homeless families and individuals. Over the years, HomeAid’s multi-unit housing has served tens of thousand of our nation’s homeless.

What truly differentiates HomeAid from other nonprofit organizations that construct housing is its model for affiliating with the local real estate and building industry with the HomeAid chapter acting as the focal point for building housing.

HomeAid San Diego works with builders and their trade partners to construct the housing, with local charities and service providers to manage the housing after it is built, and with community leaders who lend their input to the process. In terms of return on investment (ROI) and increasing the retail value of finished housing projects, the HomeAid model remains unparalleled.

The key to HomeAid’s success is leveraging in-kind donations of building materials and labor from professional builders to multiply the impact of every cash donation received. With such powerful builder partnerships, HomeAid multiplies the effect of each cash contribution three-fold.

Who are the temporary or transitional homeless population?

Research indicates that of the total population of homeless – 81% will enter and exit a housing facility quickly, not return for an extended period of time, or never return. This population of temporary, or transitional, homeless individuals and families has experienced a life-altering event (e.g. job loss, natural disaster, divorce, foreclosure, abuse or medial condition, etc.) that drives them to homelessness only until they can rebuild their lives and transition back into the mainstream. Typically these temporary homeless individuals and families merely need a second chance to get their feet back on the ground, attain self-sufficiency, and move quickly toward acquiring permanent housing.

What is the Housing First Approach?

Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life. This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less critical, such as getting a job, budgeting properly, or attending to substance use issues. Additionally, Housing First is based on the theory that client choice is valuable in housing selection and supportive service participation, and that exercising that choice is likely to make a client more successful in remaining housed and improving their life. (https://endhomelessness.org/resource/housing-first/ - National Alliance to End Homelessness)

How is Housing First different from other approaches?

Housing First does not require people experiencing homelessness to address the all of their problems including behavioral health problems, or to graduate through a series of services programs before they can access housing. Housing First does not mandate participation in services either before obtaining housing or in order to retain housing. The Housing First approach views housing as the foundation for life improvement and enables access to permanent housing without prerequisites or conditions beyond those of a typical renter. Supportive services are offered to support people with housing stability and individual well-being, but participation is not required as services have been found to be more effective when a person chooses to engage. Other approaches do make such requirements in order for a person to obtain and retain housing. (https://endhomelessness.org/resource/housing-first/ - National Alliance to End Homelessness)

HomeAid America created the graphic above to show the various aspects of homelessness and the Continuum of Care required from stakeholders and partners, both public and private, to work together to mitigate this challenging issue of our time. Solving this community problem is complex, expensive and will take all stakeholders working together to help our homeless community members.